HIV protesters occupy McCarthy’s office

A group of protesters stormed Kevin McCarthy‘s office on Capitol Hill on Monday, demanding he reauthorize PEPFAR, the HIV/AIDS relief program. 

‘McCarthy – pass PEPFAR now,’ they shouted and chanted as they seated themselves on the floor.

U.S. Capitol Police removed them from McCarthy’s office in the Rayburn House Office Building, which is across the street from his official speaker’s office in the Capitol building.

The seven protesters, some wearing t-shirts that read HIV-positive and waving signs calling to ‘end AIDS,’ were handcuffed and taken away. 

It’s unlikely McCarthy was in that office as he usually works out of the Capitol building but his staff didn’t immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s inquiry. Monday marks the day House members are returning to Washington D.C. after their summer break. 

PEPFAR, a widely-praised global program started by President George W. Bush, has become caught up in the fight over abortion. It faces a September 30th deadline to be reauthorized.

PEPFAR, also known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, fights AIDS and HIV and the virus that causes it in areas throughout the developing world. It provides funding for prevention, treatment and medication.

PEPFAR funds are credited with saving 25 million lives across the globe. The funds are spread across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

The activists – from Health GAP (Global Access Project), which is a nonprofit that advocates for those with HIV and Housing Works, a group dedicated to ending homelessness and AIDS – posted video and pictures of their protest all over social media.

‘This global AIDS program has saved 25 million lives. We need a CLEAN 5-YEAR REAUTHORIZATION from Congress,’ Housing Works posted online.

But some conservative Republicans charge that funds from the program’s nearly $7 billion annual budget goes to abortion providers. 

President Joe Biden’s administration, the program’s leaders and outside experts vehemently deny this.

Protestors stormed McCarthy’s office to demand that PEPFAR, a global AIDS program, become reauthorized

Speaker Kevin McCarthy i s dealing with several government funding issues

However, Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, who heads the subcommittee that controls PEPFAR, is leading the charge to stop the program’s renewal until the anti-abortion restrictions the Biden administration lifted in 2021 are reinstated. 

Those restricts prevented groups using PEPFAR funds from discussing abortion as an option. 

Democrats argue any pause in funding can harm those fighting the virus.

McCarthy, meanwhile, is dealing with a full plate.

As lawmakers return to Capitol Hill this week, he has to fund the government before the September 30th deadline, deal with a White House request for more aid to the Ukraine and appease conservatives, who want to begin impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden. 

He is balancing several balls in the air as the fall session begins.

He became speaker after a deal with the conservative wing of the Republican Party issued a list of demands – including the ability to call a quick vote to ‘vacate the chair’ and remove him from office.

Now that threat hangs over McCarthy’s every move like the sword of damocles.

If Congress doesn’t pass a bill to fund the government by the end of the month, there will be a partial shutdown. Given the Congressional schedule, there are just 11 working days to do that.

Conservatives are pushing for massive cuts in federal spending. Democrats, who control the Senate, are standing firm against them. 

McCarthy could bring the right-wing under control by launching an impeachment inquiry into Biden and his role in his son Hunter’s business dealings. 

The White House has said Biden is not involved in his son’s business dealings.

The protesters want the global PEPFAR fund reauthorized – it proves treatment of AIDS/HIV patients around the world

Six protesters occupied McCarthy’s office on Monday morning

But former President Donald Trump still has many allies in the Capitol, who want to see the current president go through what the last one faced. They charge the Biden family enriched themselves based on Biden being the vice president.

Republicans have not yet been able to produce evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden. 

The White House is urging Congress to pass a temporary funding measure to keep the government open through the end of the year, tacking to it a request for $16 billion in disaster relief funds and $24 billion for the Ukraine.

Many Republicans oppose funding for the Ukraine but could come around to a compromise if McCarthy moves forward on impeachment.

The House, which Republicans control by a thin 222-212 majority, has passed only one appropriations bill so far.

The Senate plans to move forward on Monday with bipartisan bills. Senators of both parties hope floor action will give them the upper hand in negotiations with the House.